1. < Breast Cancer

Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?

Posted by nanato6 @nanato6, Oct 12, 2018

Nanaloves: I’m about to start arimidex and just feel that the contraindications , bone issues etc. are overwhelming. I’m 70 years old, dodged a bullet I feel with zero stage DCIS but the follow up is pretty much no different then if it was more aggressive. I’ve just done 33 treatments of radiation and now they advise arimidex as a preventative. I’m not sure with the beginnings of arthritis and lower back. sensitivity already that I should take it. Anyone not take it and not have a recurrence within the 5 years.

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cancersucks | @cancersucks | Jun 30, 2019

My cancer has. 13 % recurrence off medication and 6 % if I stay on the meds . 87 % chance of not having a reoccurrence is how I see it . It was not worth the quality of life I had on them . I also already have heart condition so I decided to go off them
In December . I am doing yoga a couple times a week and other exercise to get strength back . I have or had stage 2 ILC ,

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gwinter | @gwinter | Jun 27, 2019
In reply to @geronimo1 "The Oncologist has tried me on all 3 hormone suppressant therapies - Tamoxofen, femera and Arimidex...." + (show)
@geronimo1

The Oncologist has tried me on all 3 hormone suppressant therapies - Tamoxofen, femera and Arimidex. Each one for me has had severe side effects, which include depression( suicidal thoughts) madness (crazy thoughts), severe bone and joint pain in legs, no sleep or nightmares. My next appointment is in a couple of weeks so I don’t know what he’s gonna try next. I just know I can’t take those tablets. Any herbal stuff out there that works?

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@geronimo1 I had terrible reactions to arimidex. After arguing Sith my oncologist, I now have a new oncologist and trying a new pill..exemestane. He is allowing me every third day to take for a month, then every other day for a month, and then every day.
If it doesn't work it doesn't HE said!
So far, small headache and small stomachs ache! No high blood pressure, no suicidal thoughts, and NO bone and joint pain!
Good luck!
We are all here for each other

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Jun 27, 2019

I am so surprised to hear that. Tomoxifen is the first one without joint pain. Hot flashes yes. What does your oncocytpe and mammoprint test results show in terms of reocurrence risk?

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geronimo1 | @geronimo1 | Jun 27, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "Geronimo- the oncologists usually try the 3 AIs- Femura, anestrole and arimidex. Are you sure you..." + (show)
@francine6829

Geronimo- the oncologists usually try the 3 AIs- Femura, anestrole and arimidex. Are you sure you tried Tomoxifen ? Tomoxifen does not have joint pain as a side effect.

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Tamoxifen is the one I had suicidal thoughts and severe joint pain

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francine6829 | @francine6829 | Jun 27, 2019

Geronimo- the oncologists usually try the 3 AIs- Femura, anestrole and arimidex. Are you sure you tried Tomoxifen ? Tomoxifen does not have joint pain as a side effect.

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1 reply
geronimo1 | @geronimo1 | Jun 27, 2019

The Oncologist has tried me on all 3 hormone suppressant therapies - Tamoxofen, femera and Arimidex. Each one for me has had severe side effects, which include depression( suicidal thoughts) madness (crazy thoughts), severe bone and joint pain in legs, no sleep or nightmares. My next appointment is in a couple of weeks so I don’t know what he’s gonna try next. I just know I can’t take those tablets. Any herbal stuff out there that works?

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2 replies
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Jun 2, 2019
In reply to @kathyomaha55 "I recently read that Arimidex can also compromise your immune system. I have asthma & have..." + (show)
@kathyomaha55

I recently read that Arimidex can also compromise your immune system. I have asthma & have in the last 5 months had 2 cases of pneumonia. Do you think the AI - had contributed to this? I was not warned of this side effect. I've been on it since Nov. 2018.
Thanks.

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I'll be interested to know the responses to this post.

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1 reply
kathyomaha55 | @kathyomaha55 | Jun 2, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @mollyjbrown, I appreciate your posting about your experience living with Arimidex (anastrozole). For some people,..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @mollyjbrown, I appreciate your posting about your experience living with Arimidex (anastrozole). For some people, it can certainly be a challenge to manage the side effects. You'll notice that I moved your message to this discussion where women are talking about tough choices: sticking with an aromatase inhibitor and coping with side effects or discontinuing the medication. It is a different risk calculus for everyone and each person experiences side effects differently. Thus, I'm grateful to add your story of how you manage the side effects and the choices you made.

@goldieshostak, you ask a very good question if your risk of recurrence is worth continuing with Arimidex. I encourage to read the post from Molly that was just added above this post. Ultimately the decision is yours. I recommend that you talk with your oncologist to discuss YOUR specific risk of recurrence.

I'm curious if anyone has used the CTS5 calculator (https://www.cts5-calculator.com/) with their oncologist to calculate their risk of recurrence? The tool is meant to be used with your doctor. You can read more about it here: https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/online-tool-predicts-hr-pos-recurrence-risk

Anyone use it with their doc?

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I recently read that Arimidex can also compromise your immune system. I have asthma & have in the last 5 months had 2 cases of pneumonia. Do you think the AI - had contributed to this? I was not warned of this side effect. I've been on it since Nov. 2018.
Thanks.

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2 replies
lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | May 20, 2019
In reply to @francine6829 "The studies for estrogen inhibitors show all the drugs are effective in preventing reoccurrence. The patient..." + (show)
@francine6829

The studies for estrogen inhibitors show all the drugs are effective in preventing reoccurrence. The patient should choose which has the least side effects

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Francine6829, You are absolutely right! We each need to take a very active role in beating cancer for ourselves!

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cindylb | @cindylb | May 20, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Good morning everyone. Whenever someone posts their side effects of Arimidex (Anastrozole), I realize I'm not..." + (show)
@sparklegram

Good morning everyone. Whenever someone posts their side effects of Arimidex (Anastrozole), I realize I'm not alone. I'm 74 and tend to think, "Well, this could be a result of my age", but it turns out that many people on Arimidex are experiencing the same side effects. I've been taking it for a year and a half now. I won't change to another drug because from the posts I've read here, they all seem to have similar or worse side effects. In a recent conversation with my Oncologist I told her I had read that Arimidex seems to have the best success at preventing a recurrence and she agreed. My question to all of you is has anyone who has also taken Arimidex for awhile had a recurrence of cancer?

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sparklegram - Recurrance on AI's......that's a very good question. I'd like to hear about that as well....anyone?

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